Sustainable Development Goals and Lebanon explains major contributions launched in Lebanon towards the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals SDGs and the 2030 agenda.
Lebanon adopted the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. It presented its first Voluntary National Review (VNR) in 2018 at the High Level Political Forum in New York. A national committee chaired by the Lebanese Prime Minister is leading the work on the SDGs in the country. In 2019, Lebanon's overall performance in the SDG Index ranked 6th out of 21 countries in the Arab region.
Multi-stakeholder forums were held by different UN agencies including the UN Global Compact Network in Lebanon during the late 2010s for the advancement of Global Goals and their Impact on Businesses in Lebanon. The latest two were held in October 2018 and October 2019 under the title of connecting the global goals to Local Businesses.
Background
Sustainable Development Prioritized Goals Lebanon has always faced different challenges in terms of creating a clear vision plan that would develop and advance policy to improve the SDG implementation strategy. However, there are developmental attempts by the United Nations Global Compact to lead impactful initiatives to integrate best SDG practices on terms of advancing the private sector to meet up with 2030 Agenda expectations.
Lebanese Contributions to SDG Agenda Lebanon has been a lively participant in the process associated with the SDGs. Initially, it contributed to the report back presented in the UN Conference on Sustainable Development. Lebanon has also been part of the national consultations to produce inputs during the formulation of the SDGs, and so participated within the summits referring to sustainable development and therefore the SDGs. Lebanon endorsed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and also the SDGs in September 2015.
In 2015, there was a global call to advance leadership attention on poverty, inequality, and the climate change crisis. For this to happen, on 25 September 2015 world leaders assembled at the United Nations headquarters in New York, to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development replacing MDGs.
In this 2030 Agenda, 17 new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were listed to act as a guided path for the upcoming 15 years to make the world a better place for anyone, anywhere.
Lebanon's showed a complex performance indicator regarding MDGs. Hence, Lebanon has been a target for development challenges on all levels, social, economical, and environmental. The Syrian crisis increased the severity of the challenges.
There was no actual improvement on the level of bringing to light the need for a national developmental strategy to enhance SDG status in Lebanon all the way through 2016. Adding to this, the originally found issue linked to the Syrian crisis impact on the well-being of the country prevented further infrastructure advancement.
Lebanon and the Millennium Development Goals In 2000, the United Nations General Assembly embraced the Millennium Declaration, setting eight worldwide targets – the Millennium Development Goals to be achieved by 2015. The MDGs targeted different critical issues from poverty and education to the private sector's enrollment in the country's advancement. Lebanon submitted two reports on the Millennium Development Goals, in 2003 and 2008 respectively. The second report made eight recommendations, which included the need to create a private-public partnership for health, the promotion of the ICT sector as an economy driver, promote development finance and facilitate favorable market access for Lebanese goods and WTO accession.
Since then, Lebanon has been in turmoil following multiple events resulting in political and security instability. The 2006 war damaged infrastructure and public services and caused the contamination of agricultural lands, and the coastal sea due to a large oil spill. The hostilities resulted caused the death of 1200 civilians and injured around 5000 people, 15% of whom are now with permanent disabilities. The war's toll on the Lebanese economy, communities and human capital, impacted progress on the MDGs.
On June 5, 2012, leading up to the world summit, the President of the Republic of Lebanon addressed the people calling for a "conscience awakening". He acclaimed that the Rio+20 summit is a "milestone on the path that we took in re-placing Lebanon on the international map and stressing on its civilizational and cultural status in the world." His call to action was around making Lebanon a country of freedom and coexistence but most importantly, development.
Later on in 2013, 5 key priorities were identified during focus groups and national consultations. First, the country needed basic services mainly in the areas of health and education. Second, there was a major need for good governance and political reforms to tackle corruption and sectarian politics. It was also essential to advance structural reforms such as the secularization of the state and the adoption of a sound electoral law that secures the equitable representation of all the Lebanese and the creation of a culture of citizenship. The third major priority was around peace building and conflict prevention. The fourth one was about the enhancement of the infrastructure and public transportation and finally the fifth priority was about inclusive growth and job creation.
Lebanon and the Sustainable Development Goals The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by all United Nations Member States back in 2015. The SDGs are a set of 17 global goals to transform our world. They are an urgent call for action addressed by and for all countries for a global partnership. The SDGs span across different developmental areas including poverty, equality, education, economic growth and more. The 2030 agenda has 160 targets and 230 indicators.United Nations (2017) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 6 July 2017, Work of the Statistical Commission pertaining to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
In September 2015, Lebanon endorsed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs. A ESCWA report, prepared in cooperation with the Lebanese Ministry of Environment in early 2015, identified six sustainable development priorities for Lebanon.
Achieve employment generating economic growth; Build institutional and administrative capacities and improve governance; Improve social protection systems for all groups and address inequalities; Achieve energy security; Develop infrastructure and sustainable cities; Protect natural habitats and biodiversity.
The report noted that these priorities are aligned with the SDGs, particularly SDG 7 (energy), SDG 8 (growth and employment), SDG 9 and SDG 11 (infrastructure and cities), SDG 10 (inequality), SDG 15 (ecosystems) and SDG 16 (institutions).
Reporting Platforms
National Government's Data Reporting Platform on the SDG indicators The Lebanese government established an institutional mechanism to give stakeholders the opportunity to participate in the SDG reporting process. There is also a national committee established by the council of ministers for the SDGs. This committee is chaired by the prime minister and includes more than 50 state officials. The committee has launched a website dedicated to the present the progress of this national committee towards achieving the 2030 Agenda.
There is also a legislative institutional mechanism to monitor the SDGs within the Lebanese parliament. Ministries are also taking into consideration the integration of the SDGs within their planning such as the ministry of public health or industry. +Summary of some projects and initiatives led by the Lebanese Government to support the SDGsRepresentative Organization\BodyInitiatives\ProjectsSDG1The Ministry of Social AffairsNational Poverty Targeting Program (NPTP) ProjectSDG 2Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Economy and Trade Strategy 2015–2019 promoting principles of good governance The Investment Development Authority of Lebanon, IDAL Agricultural loans for farmers by the Central Bank Governmental monetary control over wheat bread pricesSDG 3Ministry of Public HealthIntegrating SDG targets and indicators within its structural frameworkSDG 4Lebanese governmentAdopting the strategy of equal educational opportunities for allSDG 5Lebanese Government NCLW's Strategy for Women's Affairs in Lebanon 2011–2021 A ten–year strategy to empower womenSDG 6Lebanese GovernmentUpdating water resource supplies and protecting wastewater networksSDG 7Council of MinistersA 5 Year strategy to enhance the electricity sectorSDG 8Ministry of Economy and TradeLebanon SME Strategy: A roadmap to 2020SDG 9Ministry of IndustryIntegrating the vision of a better Lebanese industry by 2025SDG 10Ministry of Public Health
Ministry of Labour Social protection policies and health insurance A five-year intensive strategy with the support of ILOSDG 11The Ministry of State for PlanningImproving a national urban Strategy and the 'Habitat III National Report for Lebanon'SDG 12The Ministries of Environment and IndustryLebanon's Action Plan for Sustainable Consumption and Production for the Industrial Sector in 2015SDG 13Council of MinistersLebanon signed the Paris Agreement in 2016 which was under study until further time periodSDG 14Council for Development and ReconstructionNational Physical Master Plan of the Lebanese TerritorySDG 15Lebanese government National Action Plan to Combat Desertification National Afforestation and Reforestation Programme and the 40 Million Trees ProgrammeSDG 16Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants collaborating with EUDrafting a national counter terrorism strategySDG 17Lebanese and French GovernmentsLebanon - CEDRE Conference (6 April 2018)
Performance
Voluntary National Reviews
2018 Voluntary National Review Lebanon presented its first Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in 2018.
The VNR highlighted the importance of public-private-partnerships in the Lebanese economy and the need for SDG financing and private sector mobilization. The Syrian refugee crisis and its impact on public services and the economy has made the implementation of the 2030 Agenda very challenging.
The VNR was prepared by an independent national committee chaired by the Prime Minister. Workshops, meetings, and consultation sessions were conducted with national stakeholders.
The VNR introduced the present conjuncture of the SDG implementation in Lebanon in the areas where the agreement with the 2030 agenda is still fragile or absent.
Lebanon used a certain methodology to write the VNR. The collection of data from primary resources, included extensive consultation with key ministries, parliament, and other state entities, was done as a first step. A survey consisting of short questions was also sent to all relevant public-sector administrations to gather facts and details on national policies and strategies related to the SDGs. Moreover, three workshops with government representatives, business sector, and civil society took place. Twenty-three interviews with individual stakeholders including academia were performed. The second step consisted of a review of secondary sources including sectoral strategies, ministry reports, plans and legislations. Thematic publications as well as reports by UN agencies and well-established international organizations were also used.
SDG Index In 2020, Lebanon's overall performance in the SDG Index ranked 95th out of 166 countries. Lebanon scored 66.7